Tekever AR5 to replace British Army Watchkeeper drones in £400m deal

The British Army is to retire its fleet of Thales Watchkeeper uncrewed aircraft, with the UK defence ministry confirming that Tekever has secured a contract to supply its twin-engine AR5 air system as a replacement. The deal, worth £400 million ($530 million), marks a significant shift in the military’s surveillance capabilities as it moves away from a system that has been in service for years. The AR5, built by the Portuguese company Tekever, is expected to bring enhanced endurance and payload capacity, though specific performance details have not been released. The contract was confirmed by the defence ministry but no timeline for delivery or operational debut has been given. The replacement comes after the Watchkeeper, developed by Thales, faced technical challenges and delays during its introduction. This transition signals the MoD’s continued investment in uncrewed systems, even as it grapples with broader budgetary pressures.